Self-closing tube



Oct. 30, 1934. R. s. MANzARDo 1,979,166

SELF CLOSING TUBE Filed May 5, 1952 'of the valve piston 1.

Patented Oct. 30, 1934 PATENT OFFICE V1,979,166 SELF-CLOSING- TUBE Roger S. Manzardo, Berne, Switzerland Application May 5, 1932, serial No. 609,430

In Switzerland October 9, 1931 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a self-closing tube, by means of which the disadvantages of the packing tubes generally in use at the present time are overcome, namely the possibility of displacing, losing or forgetting to close the cap after each use of the tube;n As is known, "the contents of the tube dry, if the cap is not properly closed and it is further lsubjected tofthe action of air and dust.

The present invention relates to a self-closing tube, in which the delivery end consists of a closing device made of metal or some other suitable material. The novelty consists in that, on pressure being exerted with the fingers on the wall of the tube in, closed condition, discharge apertures situated at a distance apart are brought into communicating position and in this position i constitute the aperture for discharging the contents of the tube until the pressure of the fingers is removed from the wall of the tube.

Three embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 shows one form of construction of the closure in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical cross section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of construction of a closure by means of a cap fitted on the end of the tube.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a third form of construction.

The automatically closing device, fitted on the neck or some other portion of the tube T and made of metal or other suitable material, consists according to the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of a cylindrical valve piston 1, which is air-tightly enclosed axially shiftable in a valve casing 2 and guided by means of a guide 3 and guide groove 4 in such a manner that the valve piston 1 cannot turn. This valve piston is bevelled towards a passage 5 ofthe tube on the pressure side 6. A channel 7 extends from this pressure side to the outer wall of the piston and is situated at a distance from a discharge aperture 8 in the valve casing 2. A permanently tensioned pressure spring 9 acts on the other end This spring bears at one end against the closing cap 10 of the casing 2 and at the other end engages in a recess in the piston 1. The strength of the spring is adapted to the consistency of the contents of the tube. The bevelled face or pressure surface 6 and the casing wall opposite same form a wedge-shaped space 11 between them.

When pressure is exerted with the ngers on the wall of the tube T, the yielding mass of the tube contents forces its way through the passage 5 into the wedge-shaped space 11 and into the channel '7. The pressure in the mass overcomes the action of the spring and pushes the valve piston to the left, until the channel 7 communicates with the discharge aperture 8. In this position the contents of the tube pass out freely, as long as the finger pressure on the tube wall is maintained. When the channel '7 registers with the discharge aperture 8, the recessed end of the piston bears against the wall of the closing cap 10. When the ringer pressure is removed from the tube wall, the pressure of the expanding spiral spring causes the valve piston 1 to return into its initial hermetically closing position of rest, as illustrated in the drawing.

Whereas according to the first form of construction illustrated in Figs. l and 2 the valve casing is made in one piece with the tube T so that these parts are inseparable, the second form of construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the iirst form of construction as regards the automatic closing device, but separate and adapted to be screwed onto existing tubes. For' this purpose the valve casing 2 has a screw threaded socket 12 at its lower end. The closing head 13 can be screwed on the tube T, after the tube cap has been removed, and it can remain thereon until the tube is empty, when it is fitted to a fresh tube.

The third modication, illustrated in Fig. 5, is a simpliiied construction, in which the piston 1 is not provided with a passage aperture as in the other constructions, but is solid. On pressure being exerted with the fingers on the wall of the tube, the piston shifts against the action of the spring 9. Thus, the internal space 11 communicating with the passage aperture 5 is enlarged until the piston l liberates more or less the passage aperture 8 or establishes intercommunication between the two passage apertures 5 and 8 for the purpose of forcing the contents out of the tube as long as the linger pressure is maintained.

A spiral movement can be imparted by a suitable guide to the piston during its longitudinal movement, so that in this manner the passage apertures are brought into register. The discharge aperture 8 may be of any desired shape.

I claim:-

1. A self-closing device for tubes, comprising in combination a casing on the mouth of the tube having a considerably narrowed passage com- 110 municating with the interior of the tube and a discharge aperture parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, a spring-influenced closing element enclosed in said casing between said passage and said aperture and movable in a different direction to the longitudinal axis of the tube a distance at least equal to the width of said discharge aperture, and said closingrelement having 'an opening'therein adapted to be brought into registry with the passage and discharge aperture.

2. A self-closing device for tubes, comprising in combination a casing on the mouth of the: tube having a narrowed passage aperture "cinmunie cating with the tube and a discharg eapertureY parallel to the longitudinal axis Aof the tube, a piston slidable in the longitudinal axis of the tube,f;and `a springin said casing pressing against and #tend-ing to force said piston into closing position, and said piston having an opening therein adapted tcbe brought into ir'e'gis'try with the casing 'passage and discharge aperture.

3. 'A self-closing device in combination a casing on the mouth of the tube having a passage communicating with the interior of the tube 'and a discharge aperture parallel to the longitudinal axis of ythe tube, a

said casing ist neri-tangies; to

for tubes, comprising fin combination a casing on the mouth of the tube having aVpassage communicating with the interior of the tube and a discharge aperture parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, a springdnluenc'ed piston shiftable in said casing fat right angles to the longitudinal axis of the "tube, and having at one end a face bevelled towards said passage and a channel extending from said bevelled face to the side remote from said passage, and a spring pressing 'against the other end of said piston, said piston vadapted to be shifted `to bring said channel vinto register with saiddischarge aperture when pressure is exerted on the tube, and to be returned into closing position by said spring when Vthe pressure is removed from the tube. l., 1 ROGER S. MANZARDO.

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